The third round and the third defeat of the Slovenian champions

Slovenian women's handball team Krima OTP Group Mercator suffered another defeat in the third round of the league championship, losing 37-31 to Danish side Esbjerg at home in Ljubljana’s Tivoli Hall. This marks the team’s third loss of the season, continuing a pattern of struggles against stronger opponents. The match ended with a score of 37-31 in favor of Esbjerg, who maintained their dominance throughout the game. The team, coached by Dane Rasmus Poulsen, has already recorded two previous losses this season, first to Hungarian club Ferencvaros (40-29) and later to Romanian side CSM Bucharest (29-37). Despite showing resilience during their second home match, the young squad faced challenges in maintaining consistency. They managed to take a brief lead early in the game, reaching a 2-1 advantage after five minutes, but quickly lost momentum as the Danish players capitalized on tactical errors. Throughout the match, goalkeeper Maja Vojnović made several crucial saves, including stopping two seven-meter shots in the opening moments. However, the Slovenian defense struggled to contain the attacking threats posed by Esbjerg. The Danish team gradually extended their lead, with forward Henny Reistad scoring 13 goals, leading her team to a commanding position. She was instrumental in securing the victory, scoring six times on the day. In the first half, Krima managed to hold a three-goal lead at one point, but the second half saw a dramatic shift in control. Esbjerg took full advantage of defensive lapses and scored multiple goals within the first few minutes of the second period. By the 42nd minute, the score stood at 29-19 in favor of the visitors, marking the turning point of the match. The Slovenians attempted a comeback but were unable to close the gap significantly, ultimately settling for a narrow defeat. Several players contributed to the performance, with Ana Abina, Liana Vuković, and Anne With Johansen each scoring five points. Nina Zulić added four goals, while Henny Reistad dominated the attack with her 13-point contribution. The Slovenian team conceded six goals, with key mistakes in transition play allowing the Danish attackers to exploit gaps. The match concluded with Krima facing yet another setback, leaving them at the bottom of the standings. The team will now have a two-day break before their next fixture against Belarusian powerhouse Brest, which promises to be another tough challenge. The results continue to highlight the difficulties faced by the young squad as they compete against more established teams in European competition.